Page 63 of Her Cadillac Cowboy
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Sara opened the door to a large, sunny room that contained enough baby furniture to decorate the dream nurseries of two dozen expectant mothers. A kitchenette’s red enameled cabinets gleamed in the far corner. A riot of primary colors and shiny mobiles ranged the walls and the ceiling. Her gaze searched among playpens, high chairs, changing tables, cribs, bassinets, and rocking chairs.
Josh stood near a corner crib, his back to the room. He had his shirt off and a chubby baby cuddled against one shoulder. His free hand twirled a sparkling sun, moon and stars mobile while he crooned an off-key lullaby in that deep voice. Mesmerized, she watched the play of muscles under supple skin. Were his dark arms and chest as smooth and touchable as the rosy cherub he held? The baby cooed in his hold, obviously happy to be there.
He looks so natural. He’ll make a wonderful father.
She recalled the thorough understanding and gentle discipline he offered freely to Will. What would his children be like? Red-headed, laughter sparking, bundles of energy who would grow into strong, generous beings like their father.
Her heart twisted at the thought. Any babies Josh fathered would belong to some other woman. The woman he loved. Whoever that woman was, Sara envied her. For herself, children were not in the cards. Not for a woman whose career and not-so-frail father would occupy all her time. And certainly not with a man whose very name that father loathed.
Josh put the baby down and turned. “Sara.” His eyebrows shot up, then dropped. His eyelids narrowed, and his lips thinned. “How long have you been here?”
“I’ve been in this room long enough to know that rough ridin’ Josh McKinley has a soft spot for babies.” She swallowed down the desire to kiss the flush that darkened his bronze cheek.He can’t be blushing.“I’ve also been in the building long enough to know I have to apologize for the things I said about using this place for a daycare. You’ve done a wonderful job.”
“It’s just a building.”
“No, you’ve made it much more than a building.”
“Thank you for saying so.” His eyes held her immobile. Gently, he placed the baby in a crib and started toward her. “If the place succeeds, it’ll be because of the staff and the parents.” His eyes reflected the intensity in his voice. He looked…passionate.
“It’s obvious you know your business.” She backed up until she was stopped by another crib. The occupant protested the jostling impact with a wail that saved her from Josh’s quiet pursuit. She turned to pick up the waking infant.
“Now you’ve done it.” The laughing comment came over her shoulder, and she turned to look at Josh. “It’s feeding time for these little critters, and once one of them squalls, they all start.”
Verification came from opposite corners of the room.
He ran a hand through his hair. “We’re shorthanded today, which is why I’m in here, having babies spit up on my best shirt. You’ll have to lend a hand, since you started it all.”
He’d seated her in a rocker and walked off before she could protest. “But I don’t know anything about babies.”
“Don’t worry,” he called from the kitchenette at the back of the room. “Babies know what they want. They’ll teach you real quick.”
He was right. The minute Sara set the rocker in motion the bundle in her arms seemed content to watch her with huge, liquid eyes. The lips pursed and relaxed, then pursed again. The kid was hungry but didn’t cry. Those eyes studied Sara with easy concentration. Sara couldn’t get her fill of looking back. She placed a finger under one tiny hand beneath the blanket surrounding the child to keep off the air-conditioned chill. The baby’s fingers closed around Sara’s in a surprisingly firm grip. Sara smiled.
I could do this all day.
She released the child’s grip, then stroked downward over a soft cheek. Immediately the baby turned in that direction. Its pouty lips smacked as if expecting a nipple. When they met nothing but air, the child opened its mouth and crinkled its eyes shut. The wail tore Sara’s heart in two and set it thumping with fear. “Josh, what’s wrong?”
He was at her side in a moment. “Nothing’s wrong. This fella’s just hungry.” Josh handed her a bottle. Soft sucking noises replaced the cry. Sara could hear the rustle of blankets and soft mewls from the other babies. The sounds were oddly comforting.
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to get some help.”
Gut-wrenching fear replaced that soft, warm feeling. What if one of the babies starts to cry? She scanned the room. What if all ten cried?How do I know what they want? What if this one is still hungry when he finishes the bottle? Is he supposed to burp? How? What if he throws up? What if one of them gets sick?
Adult voices reached her ears.She jolted in the rocker and clutched the baby tighter.Dear God, I’ve crushed him.She glanced down, afraid of what she’d see. Pale pink lids with long, long lashes closed over the lush brown eyes that had captivated her earlier. The child’s tiny mouth still worked at the bottle.No harm done, thank heaven.
Moments later, Josh seated himself in the rocker opposite her. He had a T-shirt on now. His arms held another baby, who slurped noisily at a bottle in Josh’s large hand. Sara knew how gentle those hands could be. She and Josh worked steadily, changing babies, feeding and rocking them. By the time all the infants were again asleep or playing in their cribs and playpens, Sara felt as if she’d put in a full day at the office.
Josh escorted her to the door at the back of the building. Halfway there, Will Talmidge came running off the basketball court. “Ms. Carson, Ms. Carson, wait.” They halted, to let Will catch up. He stood before them for a moment, bent at the hips, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. “I want to invite you to dinner sometime. You know, to thank you for the other day.”
Sara looked at Josh.
“Josh said it’s okay.”
“Will mentioned that you and he had talked.”
Sara stammered. “I...uh...I hardly know what to say.”
